The next Atelier game, tentatively dubbed “Project A15,” will be revealed in March 28 issue of Dengeki, Gust announced at the Dengeki Game Festival in Akihabara today.

The new protagonist, designed by Hidari, was teased in a short movie. She has pink pig-tails, a black skirt, and white knee-high stockings. She’s voiced by Rie Murakawa, who also voices Aoi Futaba in the Vividred Operation anime.

The game appears to be the next entry in the Dusk series following last year’s (or this year’s, if you don’t live in Japan) Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk.

Awesome!
I’m guessing this is for PS3 and second game of the trilogy.
I hope someday Gust will announce Mana Khemia 3!

Tetsu

Mana Khemia 3?! Yes pleeeeeease, i’ve been wanting that for a long time now XD

Eclipse

Absolutely love Hidari’s art~!

Will be greatly looking forward to this.

CrystalPulse

Love his work to. Can’t seem to find any other material aside from Sasami chan and Fractale though.

Eclipse

I’m also not too familiar with a whole lot of his work, but I do know that he did the character designs for a series called “Natsuiro Kiseki”. It’s a Slice-of-Life Anime, but I haven’t watched it yet.

DarthBrian

Hopefully we get dual-audio on this one. assuming tecmo-koei intends to bring it over.

Tetsu

I wonder if Atelier will ever have a male protagonist again

MrRobbyM

I highly doubt it. The cutesy females are basically what sell the games.

Taiho

I’m still waiting for Sterk to get his own game where you talk to pigeons and slay dragons.

Elvick

Hope we get it. :/

It sucks it’s now in question. Wish Atelier fans wouldn’t be so fickle about dual audio. Yes it sucks TK didn’t include it, but not buying the game at all because of it is ridiculous.

As if Japanese audio is more important than, you know, a game in English. If it was, then you’d just import and get the game way sooner.

/mumbles to self more about it

Anime10121

Truer words have never been spoken. Elvick, them’s words should be on a plaque!

CrystalPulse

Exactly!

zakou

I for one can say that “sometimes” depending on the person obviously, Japanese voices can make a strong impact on the game/sales.

If they didn’t include the Japanese voices in the new UNS3 game then I would strongly consider getting Tomb Raider instead and just stick with the anime/manga for the rest of the story and not get the game as I’m sure many Naruto fans would because the English VA are really bad in comparison.

This is why you see so many games having both Jap/Eng audios, games/series like:
-Naruto
-Disgaea
-Ninja Gaiden
-Street Fighter
-Star Ocean
-Blazblue
-Dynasty Warriors

And many many more. If it wasn’t such a big deal none of these companies would be bothered putting both audios there, heed my word and see soon how much trouble Namco will get for not having Japanese audio in Tales of Xillia, it’s important enough to sell more copies.

The best example of how important Japanese audio is, is in Japanese games like the Yakuza games, they sell no problem with including “Only” Japanese audio all over the world, they didn’t even bother putting in english voices because we don’t need them in games such as these xD

Akimitsu

The thing is that people will still complain if it was only Japanese or if it was only in English. I’ve seen people say they wouldn’t buy a game in either of the previous two cases. Of course, localizing a game and dubbing it costs money, which some companies can’t afford with how some series sell.

Also, I don’t know if they need permission to release the Japanese voices in games in other regions, so that might also be a factor. It doesn’t matter either way for me, as I play games to play games, not listen to good/bad voice acting. Yes, it can detract from the overall enjoyment, but it’s still a game, which are meant to be played.

zakou

I have never seen people complain over a Japanese game having only japanese voices and english text, never ever, not only Yakuza is a good example but people dont even buy Japanese anime in English, every anime has Japanese dub if it didn’t Anime wouldn’t really sell that well and in my case not sell at all xD

And sorry but I kinda laughed I think like 2 people in the world would demand english voices in a underrated Japanese game that has its audience mostly otakus and anime fans that would pick japanese voices over english anyday.

I guess they do need some license or something but if a low budget company like Nippon Ichi and others have Japanese dub in every game then i guess Gust could too.

Sorry for long post.

Hikari Langley

“I have never seen people complain over a Japanese game having only japanese voices and english text, never ever.”

*cough* *cough* Take that somewhere else, I can’t stand how Agarest War is JP dub only it really stops me from enjoying the game. So no, that’s not true, you just don’t look for it. And Some of the those games with JP dub, like star ocean, it wasn’t manditory, it was for fun.

Kurisu Makise

“I have never seen people complain over a Japanese game having only japanese voices and english text, never ever,” I’ll stop you right there. I’ve complained and I always would complain, especially in the case of Tales. I’m willing to overlook it for Yakuza because I’d rather not screw the rest of you guys from actually getting the game or the next game. However Tales wise, yes I demand english voices and it better be good. It’s all about immersion, just as its fair for others to loose immersion because the Japanese voices aren’t there or whatever, it’s fair to say others loose immersion when the audio is not in their language.

zakou

Ok and i respect that but you have nothing to complain about xD this is why English has “always” been there and always will be for every jrpg outside of Japan, excluding maybe like 10 games out of 1000.

This is why i said i have never seen people complain because i haven’t, did you complain for Tales of Game not having English Dub? When? They always did have it didn’t they? xD So you never got the chance to complain.

Also ask yourself this, how would a true Japanese mafia “The Yakuza” sound in English? I will tell you how, ever seen the Chinese movies Dubbed in English? Yes that nightmare, that is how they would sound.

Kurisu Makise

That’s not true actually. Chinese movies were dubbed pretty bad back in the day but that doesn’t mean you can never dub a Japanese mafia game. SEGA did try I suppose, they went a bit overboard and it didn’t capture the feel of an asian mafia. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible though. As for not having anything to complain about, I cite Yakuza. I’d have liked a solid attempt. SEGA didn’t do it well but obviously since games like Sleeping Dogs exist, it means there is possibility to do it right.

zakou

You are right, it isn’t impossible to English dub a Japanese Yakuza, it is very diffucult xD Just like it isn’t impossible to gives us FFXIII Versus XIII release date, it is rather difficult :P

Kurisu Makise

Patience my friend, Versus is coming (as FFXV believe xD!) but yes it would be difficult no doubt. Honestly as someone whom would like to do localization I’d welcome such a challenge if ever given the chance, I think I know how to portray the feel.

rebellion14

“I have never seen people complain over a Japanese game having only japanese voices and english text, never ever,”

I am definitely a person who complains if a game fails to have an English dub. No matter how much I try can’t ever enjoy a game if it has only Japanese dub (e.g Agarest). Which is why English dub is definitely a “MUST” for me. Regarding your Yakuza example while I am not 100% sure, I thought their sales are pretty lackluster in North America and Europe and they cut the dub from it to cut localization costs, not to meet demand (don’t quote me on it).

Kurisu Makise

“Also, I don’t know if they need permission to release the Japanese voices in games in other regions, so that might also be a factor” one word; Contracts. Japanese voice actors have contracts with the companies they work for and they’re not very good sometimes. In this case, GUST whom should have known better quite frankly, must have signed contracts preventing the Japanese Audio track to be used overseas.

And Tales fans willing to risk the future of the series over something they’ve never done ever before, are hardly smart.

If they want Japanese audio over all else, they would already have Xillia, so the localization wouldn’t matter.

zakou

You have to understand how important dual audio is, most of the JRPGs have it and it is becoming a standard. Gust themselves said that they are “sorry” and that future Atelier games will have dual audio, this is how fast it reached them.

Namco would have sold ” a little more” if they included both audios in Xillia, we both know this and so does everyone.

Not everyone can read Japanese, there are thousands of people who can’t import because of that, and I am one of them, yesterday i was talking to Pyro from gematsu(who imported Xillia and X2) how I would import Xillia if i knew Japanese, there are a lot people like this, if they all knew Xillia will have Jap dub they wouldn’t import it thus making better sales outside of Japan.

Hideo Baba is getting spammed with this question but “they are considering it” He is starting to become very greedy because it would cost them a little bit more to include the Audio here.

Guest

Does all PS3 Atelier games have Japanese audio?

新阿修羅(ShinAsura)

Why do you care? You buying me a copy? It’s my money

Elvick

Because, I’d actually like to play Atelier games in a language I understand in the future?

Duh. Did you even ponder that question for a second before letting it loose into the internet?

People being perfectly willing to harm the chances of niche titles coming out in my country, over dual audio, hurts my chances of actually enjoying the game. That is a perfectly reasonable reason to care about it.

Your argument is stupid.

PrinceHeir

don’t worry though.

Tecmo Koei already apologize about the Ayesha incident, and promises to put it to consideration in future titles.

Well, as Atelier fans expect Japanese dub (because the English one is a) vastly inferior and b) incomplete) they are a case in point that including Japanese audio, and not even bothering with English dub is sometimes more important than getting “you know, a game in English”.

zakou said anything else there is to be said regarding this topic. It’s very simple to me: no Japanese dub means I’m importing the Japanese version. The international publisher dicks me over, I dick him over in return. Justice served. I’d rather they invest money and resources to bring the game over faster than waste money and resources on (mostly) hilariously inferior English dubs I’m never gonna listen to anyways.

Kurisu Makise

They’re not wasting money dubbing the Atelier series per say, if Gust doesn’t have their licenses in order, then I’m not going to punish Tecmo Koei and not pick up the game. It’s obviously not a money issue and it’s not a space on disc issue either. More power if you can of course get the local version but if you can’t and english was your means to play the game, then please spend your money otherwise we won’t be seeing the next one, simple as that. I also assume that besides the voice acting, the rest of the localization process is still good mind you.

i was speaking in general and that i understand why atelier fans feel betrayed by the new publisher, who lied blatantly in their faces by stating on twitter and fb that they will include the original audio. i do not have any interest in the series so i could not care less whether tk decide to generously include the original audio in their next international atelier release.

Kurisu Makise

Fair enough admittedly, I just really don’t want Tecmo Koei to not release the next game. Look at the main, she’s adorable, plus I’m hoping for the Arland Vita ports =(

Had to delete my favorite movie encodes from my Vita i.o. to download the DOA5+ demo. Sad times, as even my 32GB memory cart is too small for lots of digital versions of games. Hope you won’t experience the same issues soon, as Totori is digital-only and weighs in at 2.9GB.

Kurisu Makise

I…I say I’m prepared for this but I’m internally crying at the thought of two 32GBs just for my NA account and at least a 16GB for my soon to be either HK or JPN account. But I’m a sucker for the Heat the Soul series on PSP (it’s what convinced me to get my white PSP-1000 to begin with). For now though, I’m just going to do 1x 32GB, load it with my PS+ goodies and Totori <3 Then see from there. I'll also prepare space for the hopeful Meruru <3

Elvick

Ignoring where I said… if you ONLY CARE ABOUT JAPANESE AUDIO THAT YOU WOULD IMPORT AND THE LOCALIZATION TREATMENT WOULDN’T MATTER AT ALL.

Making any valid complaint with that reasoning, complete and utter bullshit.

If your entire value of a JRPG is the Japanese audio, and not understanding the damn game, you’d be importing them all years in advance. Not whining about the localization not having dual audio, since you’d have the game already in the way you want it.

Otherwise, complaining means you must value the localization in some other way (cheaper, support, english, etc). Otherwise you wouldn’t wait for it at all. Thus have nothing to whine about.

So one has to question why the importance of dual audio overrides English text, cheaper local prices, and supporting a niche market worldwide.

Ok, let me put things into perspective so we do not miss each other’s point again: I do not give a fuck about western publishers of Japanese games who cut the original audio out of the international release, unless they make an effort to provide a stellar localization (MGS games come to mind) as a satisfactory replacement instead. Most do not give a damn to provide an English localization of similar quality to the original one resulting in obnoxious English VAs.

I do support western publishers who respect the original product (原作) and do me the courtesy of providing said original voice actors’ labor of love.
Let’s just assume I’m not necessarily dependent on English texts in Japanese games and it should make more sense to you.

In my opinion western publishers do not support a niche market by removing the original audio, which said niche market is probably in favor of, or – dare I say it – even expects.

Just because you beg to differ and are complacent with the “quality” of the English dubs does not mean that the rest of that small niche market is as forgiving as you are, my friend.

I hope you can understand my perspective on that matter far better now. It’s not a question of English texts, as I do not need them; it’s a question of how the western publishers support that niche market. If they deem the original audio irrelevant and rather invest money into a mediocre or atrocious English voice cast I deem my money better invested into the original Japanese game.

Kurisu Makise

Elvick not only am I with you but my copy of Atelier Ayesha is on the way to me, so I did my part in saying “I want this series to continue”.

CrystalPulse

Same here. Granted they screwed up with the “no dual audio” part which really really sucks. I’d rather they learn from their mistakes and move on than, have my chances of the next Atelier localization jeopardized due to “very poor sales”.

zakou

Nobody said anything about not buying this game xD the spams on FB/Twitter people like me, give warnings to developers like gust, this is how we got tales of the graces F released outside of the Japan in the first place, by mass spamming theit emails/fb and twitter how badly we want these games outside of Japan.

Every post they would make on FB or Twitter we would kindly say “Please consider releasing Tales of Graces F, Vesperia and Xillia outside of Japan”

We still support Gust but the more they mess up with todays standards the more warnings they will get from their fans and the less of a fanbase outside of Japan they will have left.

But Gust are cool, they soon apologized in their recent post saying their next Atelier games will feature both audios xD problem solved.

I would rather have a new Ar Tonelico game than this xD I mean how many more of Atelrier games do they have to make, didn’t they already made like 5 this year? With this being the 6th? Lol.

Anime10121

Agreed! I LOVED the Ar Tonelico series (well much less so III/Qoga), far more than the Ateler games (solid games in their own right, just cant get into them, though I am trying again with Ayesha)! Honestly though, I dont know if they’ll do another Ar Tonelico, considering they said it was a “trilogy” unless they reboot the series (wouldnt mind that either). I just want more SONG MAGIC!!! God I miss that series :(

NanaMiku

Atelier is annual game, just like Call of Duty. Blame all Vita port on KT.

As much as I like Ar tonelico. The story is already finished since there are only 3 towers.

Elvick

I’d take remasters of the first two, but otherwise I’m fine. I’d like the first two to be updated to fix the slowdown during battle.

Bloodios

I never knew it was going to be a string of annual installments when I first got interested in the the Atelier series. I seriously need to pick up the Arland trilogy at some point… before my to-buy list gets out of hands…

And now for the comment I was supposed to make before getting caught up. Our new main character has a relatively believable (though extremely girly, like wow) run animation xD! I do love her design though, mostly her attire.

CrystalPulse

Any chances of Ciel no Surge coming to America?

Elvick

I’m still hoping, but I doubt it.

CrystalPulse

Just wanted to share a post that may or may not shed more light to the whole dual-audio thing.

I do like the Atelier series, but why do games like the AC series get so much crap for annual releases and this?

LordKaiser

I hope that these series comes on Disc. I fear that TecmoKoei will fk things up. Everything was fine with NISA.

Nightcore34

Hope they do a better job at marketing this than ayesha

vertical09

I can’t stop watching that trailer. The music is so good XD

Hyped for this coming over~ I don’t TK is going to give up on the Atelier series just yet.
If anything, they’ll try and bring dual audio this time around now that they know how much everyone wanted it.

raneeeeek

I hope these games go back to being actual good rpgs like on the Ps2. Arland series was total trash.